Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-10-23
A SCRAP OF HISTORY.
An Interesting Story Of the Early Days Of
the Rebellion.
A FUGITIVE SLAVES ADVENTURES.
A COlOrsd Girl from Wheeling EzcltsS
Northern Ohio 10 the Point Of Outbreak.
HOW SHE ESCAPED AND CANE BACK,

For the three weeks enulnS On "eonSc
day last there Was in this city on q visit, a
eolored woman who WAS once almost Ma
tional character, and on whose behalf
great portion of the citizens OF the State Oh
Ohio were willing to take up arms, II suen
a proceeding should become necessity.
Indeed, not few people did 20 to that ex'
treme, mobs gathering in the streets OF
important cities, ready for almost any deed
ofyiolence. Federal officers in the discharge
of their duties were insulted and threat
ened, attempts were made to wreck trains
and things took on a very threatening as
meet generally. This woman Is now Mrs.
Lucy Johnson, but at the time she cut
such prominent figure in our neighbor-
ing State she was plain Lucy, and was
slave, the property of Mr.. William S. Cos
horn, Of this city. The time of this ex-
cited state of affairs was early in the month
OF January, 1861, and the chief centre OF
disturbance, as they say in the weather re-
ports, was Cleveland. Doubtless many OF
the citizens of Wheeling will have little
difficulty in recalling the facts in this
rather remarkable case, but for the benefit
of those who are unable to do so, the story
is here given.
LUCY, THE HEROINE
of this story, was sold Is a slave in Rich
mond, in 1852, at which time she was pur'
chased by Mr.. John GOshorn, father Of
William s. She was at that time about
eighteen years OF aye. Mr.. GOshOrn, ST.,
brought the girl to Wheeling, where he
kent her until November Is, 1859, when
he gave her to his son William. The lat
ter held the girl as his property from thai
date until the events Of the civil wal
brought about very decided change
Lucy did nothing to bring herself into
especial prominence until the evening o.
the third of October. 1860, when, in the
absence of Mr. Goshorn in Minnesota, sht
disappeared. She had been sent on an er
rand on that evening to a dyer's establish
ment on what was then Union, no"
Eleventh street, and from that time OIL
tor the ensuing eight or ten weeks al
trace OF the girl was lost.
In the early part Of the following Janu
ary, MIR. GOshOrn received letter from
Cleveland, conveying the information that
the girl was at a private residence III tna'
city, and offering to disclose the locailty
for the sum of $500. Mr.. GOshorn, who
had been to Pittsburgh in search OF the
woman. went on to Cleveland, and made
an endeayor to find the girl, hut was noi
successful. While stopping at hotel II
that city, he one day received note from
the same party who had offered to disclose
the girls whereabouts for $500, requesting
an interview, and stating that the writer
could he found by following the bearer o.
the note. Mr.. GOshOrn did as directed
and met the writer, who reiterated the
fact that he knew where the girl was. Mr.
Goshorn declined to pay so large a sum a;
500 and after some talk the unknown
lowered his figure to $50. This Mr.. Cos
horn accepted, but on being met by de
mand for the cash in advance, anOthe'
hitch occurred. Finally, after good dec
of negotiation, the stranger agreed to ac'
cent SIS in cash and $75 when the fugitive
should he once more on slave soil, IN the
charge of her master, and on this basis the
place OF